9th Urbanization and Development Conference

African countries are urbanizing at faster rates than any other region in history. This offers an important opportunity for growth and development. By bringing people and firms together, cities enable industrialization, the sharing of ideas and innovation, and opportunities for trade. Cities also offer the promise of access to critical goods and services, and in the face of the climate crisis, they play an important role in adaptation and mitigation. However, if the downsides of density are not managed well, this can result in congestion, pollution, and the exacerbation of poverty.

The 9th Urbanization and Development Conference is the first iteration of the conference with a regional focus on Africa. Organized by the World Bank, the Institute for Economic Development, the City of Cape Town, George Washington University, and the International Growth Center, the event brought together academics, development practitioners, and urban policy makers to present and discuss questions relating to how research in the growing field of urban economics can help inform difficult policy decisions and the allocation of scarce resources to build productive, livable, and sustainable cities in Africa.

Watch the replay of the session sponsored by the Institute and check the all the other sessions here.